Missed Trash, Recycling, or Compost Collection

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You can report that your trash, recycling, or compost was not picked up starting at 8 AM the day after your collection day.

You cannot report missed collection if:

  • Collections were suspended on that day due to a City holiday, winter snowstorm operation, or another event
  • You did not follow all disposal rules for trash, recycling, compost, leaf/yard waste, or bulk items
  • You put your items out on the wrong day
  • Your items were not placed curbside between 6 PM and midnight (in a bin with a secured lid) or between 8 PM and midnight (in bags) the day before

What Happens Next

If you placed your items out correctly, but they have not been collected, please leave them on the curb until they are picked up.

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will collect your items within 5 days after receiving your report.

In general, there is no collection on sanitation holidays, but that is subject to change. 

Usually, if a holiday occurs on your:

  • Trash or compost collection day: Put your items out that same day after 6 PM (if in a bin with a secured lid) or after 8 PM (if in bags) for collection beginning the next day.
  • Recycling collection day: Put your items out on the evening before your next scheduled recycling collection day after 6 PM (if in a bin with a secured lid) or after 8 PM (if in bags). 

You should check back near the date of the holiday to confirm the exact collection schedule.

2023 Sanitation Holidays

DateHoliday
January 2 (Monday)New Year's Day (Observed)
January 16 (Monday)Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 13 (Monday)Lincoln's Birthday (Observed)
February 20 (Monday)Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)
May 29 (Monday)Memorial Day
June 19 (Monday)Juneteenth
July 4 (Tuesday)Independence Day
September 4 (Monday)Labor Day
October 9 (Monday)Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day
November 7 (Tuesday)Election Day
November 11 (Saturday)Veterans Day
November 23 (Thursday)Thanksgiving
December 25 (Monday)Christmas

City Property

City-owned properties that normally receive pickup from a City garbage truck can report uncollected trash.

Only a building official at the site may make a complaint. The official must provide a name and contact number.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for assistance.

Public Schools

Missed collections can only be reported by school officials.

To report a missed collection, or for information on school schedules, you must contact the DOE Division of School Facilities in Long Island City. Contact information for School Facilities is available through the school.

If you put items out the evening before a non-collection day, you could be given a ticket, also known as a Notice of Violation.

DSNY ticketing agents know when an area has a trash and recycling collection backlog. A reported backlog reduces the chance that you will get a ticket when your items were put curbside during the correct timeframe but haven’t been picked up yet. You still may get a violation.

If you receive a ticket after reporting a missed trash or recycling collection, get a copy of the Service Request you filed. You should also submit evidence for an Environmental Board hearing.

Learn how to pay, dispute, or check the status of a ticket on the City-Issued Violation or Summons page.

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